‘Absolute chaos’: Derby Day gets even more chaotic as punters left stranded

DERBY Day got a whole lot messier with tired racegoers trying to get home. The problem? They couldn’t.

THE chaos at Derby Day extended well into Saturday night as frustrated racegoers struggled to get home.

Weary punters at Flemington Racecourse looking for quick exits on the ride sharing app Uber became tangled in a transport nightmare when they were made line up for hours as part of a pick-up system organised specifically for Saturday’s event.

Several areas were set up around the venue, with patrons instructed to order their ride through the app once they reached the front of the queue and to show drivers a code.

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Lines grew and began to snake through a tent at one designated pick-up point with no cars in sight.

“There are heaps of people behind me and everyone is getting pissed,” one punter told news.com.au.

Several annoyed racegoers could be heard calling restaurants to push back dinner reservations.

‘We’d rather catch a taxi with weird vinyl seats.’

It’s uber annoying when you order an Uber and it doesn’t come.

Uber staff inside one pick-up point told punters cars weren’t being let through and traffic was at a standstill.

On Twitter, one Uber driver wrote he had been told by parking attendants to leave Flemington Racecourse.

“Absolute chaos and not worth the wait or surcharge incentive,” driver Adrian Donaghey wrote. But Flemington Racecourse responded on social media that pick-up areas were “at capacity” and vehicles would be let in “progressively”.

Probably couldn’t walk home.

These people will definitely need an Uber to throw up in.

Despite the long wait for some revellers, Uber told news.com.au it was “absolutely not the norm”.

“Uber has invested significantly in providing a positive experience for riders who were having to wait for their Uber ride to come,” a spokesperson said. “With all large-scale events, waiting for your ride home at the end of a long day is inevitable but our intention was to ensure the wait was enjoyable as possible during this time.”

Disgruntled racegoer Adam Beggs described the system as “shambolic” and a “disaster” in a post on social media.

The official website for Flemington Racecourse describes the system as “three designated UberZONES for easy drop-offs and pick-ups” which will continue to be used over the three remaining days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

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It was a mishap that made chaotic scenes at the racetrack even worse. As a crowd of 91,000 racegoers flocked to the racecourse in their finest frocks and suits, the day went from flashy to trashy in a matter of hours.

To be honest, you guys would’ve needed a maxi taxi anyway.

The event is known as the busiest — and rowdiest — day of the spring racing carnival and revellers party into the afternoon and evening.

Champagne flowed well after the horses had retired for the day and photographers captured the messy aftermath which included fist fights and partying on the track.

Definitely not five star Uber rating behaviour.